Rose-ringed Parakeet
Where does this species come from?
Southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
What is its invasive status in South Africa?
NEMBA Category 2 (for caged birds); NEMBA Category 1b (feral birds)
Where in South Africa is it a problem?
Western Cape Province, Eastern Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal Province, North West Province, Mpumalanga Province, and Gauteng Province.
How does it spread?
The pet trade is the only pathway by which rose-ringed parakeet is likely to establish feral populations.
Why is it a problem?
Ring-necked Parakeets are very noisy, especially at communal roosts. They cause considerable agricultural damage. They can compete for nest sites with native cavity nesters, and may carry diseases that could be harmful to poultry, native fauna and humans.
Common Starling
Where does this species come from?
Europe and some parts of Asia.
What is its invasive status in South Africa?
NEMBA Category 3.
Where in South Africa is it a problem?
Throughout the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces, extending slightly into the Northern Cape, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.
How does it spread?
Human beings are responsible for the spreading of this bird species through pet trade.
Why is it a problem?
It feeds on a wide variety of insect prey as well as fruits and seeds and competes against indigenous species for the same resources.
What is its invasive status in South Africa?
NEMBA Category 3.
Where in South Africa is it a problem?
Throughout the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces, extending slightly into the Northern Cape, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.
How does it spread?
Human beings are responsible for the spreading of this bird species through pet trade.
Why is it a problem?
It feeds on a wide variety of insect prey as well as fruits and seeds and competes against indigenous species for the same resources.
Helmeted Guineafowl
Africa
What is its invasive status in South Africa?
NEMBA Category 3.
Where in South Africa is it a problem?
Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal Province, Western Cape Province, Gauteng Province, and Mpumalanga Province.
How does it spread?
Spread via pet trade.
Why is it a problem?
Guineafowl can damage emerging seedlings of agricultural crops.
Common Myna
India, as well as central and southern Asia
What is its invasive status in South Africa?
NEMBA Category 3
Where in South Africa is it a problem?
Probably minimal in natural and rural habitats. Mostly found in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Western Cape, Mpumalanga, North-West and Free State Provinces.
How does it spread?
Reproduces profusely.
Why is it a problem?
Common mynas are aggressive and compete for the same resources as indigenous birds. They are also known to eat the eggs and attack the fledglings of other birds.
Chukar Partridge
Middle East, Asia, eastern Greece and south-eastern Bulgaria through Asia Minor east and Manchuria China.
What is its invasive status in South Africa?
NEMBA Category 2 on mainland; 1b on offshore islands.
Where in South Africa is it a problem?
Western Cape (Robben Island).
How does it spread?
Humans are responsible for spreading this bird species through pet trade.
Why is it a problem?
It is susceptible to several avian diseases and might act as a vector for infections that can be passed from avian hosts to humans, such as chlamydia.
House Crow
India
What is its invasive status in South Africa?
NEMBA Category 1a
Where in South Africa is it a problem?
Richards Bay and Durban (KwaZulu-Natal), Cape Town (Western Cape) and East London (Eastern Cape)
How does it spread?
Strongly associated with dense human settlements.
Why is it a problem?
Preys on eggs and nestling of native birds, also eat small native animals. Mobs humans and pets. Occasionally destroys vegetable gardens in informal settlements. Vector for pathogens that cause cholera, typhoid, dysentery and salmonella poisoning.
House Sparrow
Eurasia and North Africa.
What is its invasive status in South Africa?
NEMBA Category 3.
Where in South Africa is it a problem?
Western Cape Province, Eastern Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal Province, Free State Province, Gauteng Province and Limpopo Province.
How does it spread?
Human beings are responsible for the spreading of this bird species e.g. they spread through pet trade.
Why is it a problem?
They can crowd out native birds, disrupt food supplies, damage crops and transmit diseases. Large aggregations around buildings produce annoying noise and large quantities of faeces.
Indian Peafowl
Asia (Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka)
What is its invasive status in South Africa?
Peacocks are not a legislated invasive species but are regarded as exotic nuisance species.
Where in South Africa is it a problem?
Found in the Western Cape (Robben Island and Cape Town), and Eastern Cape (Port Elizabeth and East London)
How does it spread?
Feral populations may develop from neglected domestic birds.
Why is it a problem?
No record in South Africa, but the common peacock is known to eat eggs and chicks of seabirds